Christopher Hitchens explains why he's an Atheist
- Thread starter CLUB78
- Start date
“We keep on being told that religion, whatever its imperfections, at least instills morality. On every side, there is conclusive evidence that the contrary is the case and that faith causes people to be more mean, more selfish, and perhaps above all, more stupid.”
― Christopher Hitchens
― Christopher Hitchens
I don't think he's a great thinker. He's a great orator/writer, but not a great thinker. His thoughts about atheism are half-baked and incoherent. I bought and read his book, "God is not Great", and that's what made me conclude that it was his ego and not the search for truth that drove him. He was far better as a pseudo-intellectual writer for Vanity Fair, a magazine for the entertainment and consumption of the metro-intellectual classes than he was anything of a serious thinker, philosopher, or even atheist. He was a Trotskyist and an all-round political critic, and that's where he should have remained for he did that best. I found him immensely entertaining and listened and read many of his works -for he had a flair for the English language, it's just that I never found him as serious as he really needed to be. Anyways, his life's fight, to disprove the existence of God, he fought valiantly till the end - though many like him, his ideas as an atheist was not so much based on the search for truth, but based on having a moral problem with the idea of the existence of God. So it's too bad he chose a battle that was much greater than he was capable of, "fighting above his weight", if you will.
If you want to read a great thinker, here's a book I recommend:
This is a simple example of the confusion of Christopher Hitchens, and how easily he snows people with his use of words.
While it is true religion has caused horrible catastrophes to happen because it causes people to be more mean, selfish, and stupid, it is not faith that does this. Religion is not faith, he confuses the two; neither is faith belief, for it is belief that suppresses the intellect. Was Hitchens himself confused, or was he simply limited by the English language itself and thereby conferring a meaning he did not intend? If he was not confused about what he was thinking, he meant belief, not faith - but could he be faulted because in English the phrase, "On every side, there is conclusive evidence that the contrary is the case and that belief causes people to be more mean..." does not make sense.
Faith does not preclude the use of the intellect. In fact, faith requires the use of the intellect, but in context. Imbeciles use their intellect without context and misapply their knowledge. Again, faith, belief and religion, these are all different things. Religion wants us to believe, to not think, to "have faith" in other words. But faith itself is something entirely different.
So what is "faith" then? I am pretty sure that Hitchens' definition is not the same as whatever yours' is. His use of the term is synonymous with unwarranted belief, in my opinion. I am sure he would use the word differently in a different context; e.g., he would probably agree that he had faith that the sun will come up in the morning (a warranted belief).
I think so many people miss understand religion and or faith.
They will never really get it.
They have a very shallow view of it a very childish view of what religion is supposed to be or faith is supposed to be.
Unfortunately most religious leaders don't get it as well.
Sad really so many people don't really understand even the faith full.
They will never really get it.
They have a very shallow view of it a very childish view of what religion is supposed to be or faith is supposed to be.
Unfortunately most religious leaders don't get it as well.
Sad really so many people don't really understand even the faith full.
When one person suffers from a delusion we call that insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion.
As I always say, just because you believe something doesn't make it true.
As I always say, just because you believe something doesn't make it true.
Thank-you!!! So far, brilliant!!!If you want to read a great thinker, here's a book I recommend:
Everyone should read this book. As well as Nausea by Sarte, To Kill a Mockingbird, Moby Dick(skipping whaling parts), The Grapes of Wrath, Shogun, Grey's Anatomy, and many others. I'm demanding in what I think people should do.
Insulting Hitchens is something Hitchens himself would wholly support, so bravo to free speech.
Honesty .. I could not even listen to the first two minutes of this tape and I don't know why anybody else would either Who. really would careif he believe in God or the devil or any icons
it's just a matter of opinion , one that was formed when he 10 years old ,long before any experiences would have helped make those opinions.
seems to spend a lot of time and effort trying to defame other people's beliefs religions and faith. Mr wants to prove himself right and others wrong. With very little understanding of the concept of what faith and belief really are.
it's just a matter of opinion , one that was formed when he 10 years old ,long before any experiences would have helped make those opinions.
seems to spend a lot of time and effort trying to defame other people's beliefs religions and faith. Mr wants to prove himself right and others wrong. With very little understanding of the concept of what faith and belief really are.
I just can't listen to any of these are on this thread
the interviewers approache comes off as complete idiocracy in the way they ask questions
this whole air seems totally oblivious to what reality is o..ahy other people think and believe as they do.
talk about take about religion I think his follows: are just as religious as anybody else and demistrate exactky what he is talking against lol
is problem lies it's time to look for God in the physical world instead of looking inward on his spiritual self..
I don't think he believes he hasa spirit... so he has no need for God..because life comes . and is gone .. there is nothing more..
That is not an atheist.. that's just a person without hope
the interviewers approache comes off as complete idiocracy in the way they ask questions
this whole air seems totally oblivious to what reality is o..ahy other people think and believe as they do.
talk about take about religion I think his follows: are just as religious as anybody else and demistrate exactky what he is talking against lol
is problem lies it's time to look for God in the physical world instead of looking inward on his spiritual self..
I don't think he believes he hasa spirit... so he has no need for God..because life comes . and is gone .. there is nothing more..
That is not an atheist.. that's just a person without hope
Finding that . level ground .. between.. being .exposed to exstreams. of any.. religion . or life
philosophy..can be very difficalt.. some times.
I all way thought i was fortunit. to have a chose . in what i believed.. Although.. my fathers . idea.. and
dictates.. had there effect on how i viewed life.. and interacted.. The one think i had was
i would exsamine his ideas.. and the world view.. and see where both were wrong. And
was willing tk argue the point. .even to the point of incuring his rath..
But time proved that our beliefs.. and view . must evolve.
Being open minded.. and able to see both side of a sistuation help
Where most religions that are imposed on childern when they are young.. can have the effect of not allowing. freedom of thought.
and cause more rebellion . and unnessisary .discourse.. in families and relationships
Stifing the evilution of belief, thought .. and chose.. is why the world is in the stafe we have
philosophy..can be very difficalt.. some times.
I all way thought i was fortunit. to have a chose . in what i believed.. Although.. my fathers . idea.. and
dictates.. had there effect on how i viewed life.. and interacted.. The one think i had was
i would exsamine his ideas.. and the world view.. and see where both were wrong. And
was willing tk argue the point. .even to the point of incuring his rath..
But time proved that our beliefs.. and view . must evolve.
Being open minded.. and able to see both side of a sistuation help
Where most religions that are imposed on childern when they are young.. can have the effect of not allowing. freedom of thought.
and cause more rebellion . and unnessisary .discourse.. in families and relationships
Stifing the evilution of belief, thought .. and chose.. is why the world is in the stafe we have
